GREAT Central Railway is hoping to ‘bridge’ the gap between the Loughborough heritage line and the Nottingham section to the north with the news a connection is to be built over the Midland Mainline. GCR has launched a £1m Bridge To The Future fund-raising appeal after forming a parnership with Network Rail to build a bridge over the Midland Main Line at Loughborough. Design work is underway and the new structure made up of two reclaimed rail bridges from Reading is expected to be in place running over the four tracks of the Midland Mainline by mid-2015 - allowing the demolished 500m link between the two sections, rejoining Leicester to Nottingham via an 18 mile heritage railway. GCR managing director Bill Ford said: “We are delighted to announce this incredible step forward. “Building this bridge unlocks the rest of the re-unification project which will create an attraction with truly international appeal.” Following the bridge’s construction, other elements of the overall project include repairing an existing canal bridge, building a new bridge over Railway Terrace Road in Loughborough and replacing a missing embankment. The estimated cost for the complete scheme is £8m, and it is hoped trains will be running within five years. Mark Fowler, of Great Central Railway Nottingham, said: “There is huge interest and excitement amongst both railway enthusiasts and the general public in seeing this project succeed. “It is vitally important to us that the local communities join us in this vision too. It will drive economic benefit during construction and in the longer term too.” Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “Our electrification teams are already making significant changes to the infrastructure in this area so it’s the ideal opportunity to get the bridge in place, with minimal disruption and cost. “Once the full scheme is complete it will bring significant economic benefits to the region as well as reinstating a piece of our railway heritage.” Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan has worked to bring about reunification. She said: “This is an incredibly exciting project for Loughborough, Leicestershire and beyond and I am delighted to give it my whole-hearted support. “We have all seen the bridges lying next to the GCR station in Loughborough. To realise that, with the support of Network Rail and other key parties, their re-use to bring together the two parts of the Great Central Railway is now within sight, is a thrilling prospect. “I am convinced that reunification will bring big benefits to our local economy and I do hope everyone locally will support this important first step.”Nigel Harris, chairman of Great Central Railway Development, said: “This agreement is the start of the Great Central’s most exciting adventure yet; the delivery of a vision of an intercity heritage railway. “It’s been a very long haul to get to this point, especially over the last 20 years, but what has unlocked the problem has been Network Rail’s willingness to work in partnership with GCR, Charnwood Borough Council, Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan and other stakeholders. "The whole community is invited to participate. If you’ve ever wanted to see this happen, now is the time to act!” To support the appeal, or for more information about building the bridge and the rest of the reunification project, visit www.gcrailway.co.uk/unify